12 September 2023
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.
American AAdvantage and World of Hyatt launched a new partnership in 2019. Thanks to this partnership, elite members in both programs can link their AAdvantage and Hyatt accounts and enjoy reciprocal earnings.
American and Hyatt have occasionally provided fast-track offers for elite status to members with linked accounts. Now, we have another one, as World of Hyatt is offering a new “trial tier offer” to AAdvantage elite members.
This offer differs based on your American AAdvantage elite status tier. Read on if you have AAdvantage elite status and are interested in snagging World of Hyatt elite status for 90 days — and potentially extending it through February 2025.
Fast track to Hyatt elite status
Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall in Jamaica. BENJI STAWSKI/THE POINTS GUY
American AAdvantage elite members now have a faster way to earn World of Hyatt status through February 2025. Plus, you can enjoy Explorist status for 90 days just for registering.
You can register for this offer on Hyatt’s website through Nov. 30 if you haven’t already used such an offer this calendar year. Once you register, you’ll begin a 90-day trial period during which you’ll enjoy World of Hyatt Explorist status.
If you complete 10 tier-qualifying nights at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide, MGM Resort destinations (with a checkout date on or before Sept. 30), Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotels and Lindblad Expeditions during your trial period, you’ll maintain Explorist status through February 2025.
But, it gets better for higher-tier American AAdvantage elite members. AAdvantage members with Platinum Pro status or higher also have the opportunity to earn World of Hyatt Globalist status through February 2025 by completing at least 20 tier-qualifying nights during their Explorist trial period.
American AAdvantage elite members can log in and register at this page on Hyatt’s website. However, the offer’s terms note that you must have “already successfully linked your AAdvantage® account to your World of Hyatt® account.” So, you may not be eligible if you hadn’t previously linked your American and Hyatt accounts.
Related: Which hotels count award stays toward elite status?
Important details
Grand Hyatt Athens in Greece. CAROLINE TANNER/THE POINTS GUY
Before you register for this offer, there are some important details to understand.
For example, although you’ll get the benefits of Explorist status during your Explorist trial period, you won’t get any club lounge access awards. After all, club lounge access awards are earned via milestone rewards, not status. Likewise, even if you satisfy the requirements to keep Explorist or snag Globalist status through February 2025, you’ll still only earn milestone rewards as you complete the qualifying nights or earn the base points for each tier during a calendar year.
For a stay to count toward this tier trial offer, you must check out during your Explorist trial period. If you check out after your Explorist trial period ends, no nights in that stay will count. Although you can earn tier-qualifying nights by having and using the World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, these nights won’t count toward this promotion.
If you do successfully meet the 10-night requirement for Explorist status or the 20-night requirement for Globalist, your new status will appear in your account within seven business days of checking out of the stay that pushed you over the applicable threshold. Your status will then be valid through February 2025.
Finally, be sure to time your registration carefully. The 90-day trial status (and time period to reach 10 or 20 nights) starts when you register. As a result, if you have several Hyatt stays in the first couple of months of 2024, you should wait until closer to Nov. 30 to start the clock and ensure those nights count.
Bottom line
If you have elite status with American Airlines, this new trial tier offer might be worth registering for.
In particular, you may want to register if you can benefit from World of Hyatt Explorist status on an upcoming stay. Likewise, this offer may be useful if you were striving to qualify for Explorist status — or Globalist status for AAdvantage elites with Platinum Pro or higher status — but were still many nights too short. But remember, Hyatt milestone rewards still require you to obtain the typical base points or tier-qualifying nights even if you use this trial tier status offer to reach your desired status tier.
I already have Globalist status and trips booked to obtain all 60 tier-qualifying nights I need this year to requalify, so I’m not registering for this promotion. But, if you’re further from your desired World of Hyatt status — or didn’t plan to qualify for Hyatt status this year — this promotion might be very useful for you.
Finally, if you’re a Hyatt member looking for an AAdvantage status boost, a Hyatt spokesperson told TPG, “Select AAdvantage® members who have linked their World of Hyatt and AAdvantage® accounts may see an exclusive offer in the promotions tab within their AAdvantage® account.” So, it’s also worth checking your AAdvantage account to see if you’re targeted for an exclusive offer.